US2169158A - Code calling selector - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1939. c. MILLER CODE CALLING SELECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1935 w s R41 M Z WW V m mm T 6 A S v U afi Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CODE CALLING SELECTOR New York Application October 1'7, 1935, Serial No. 45,399

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus or mechanism for selectively sending or transmitting code-like signals and more particularly to apparatus or mechanism of that character frequently employed to transmit coded signal impulses to a number of signaling devices, usually audible, distributed throughout a building, factory, or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive selective code sig- 1 nal transmitting mechanism that will be of compact and fool-proof construction, dependable in action and capable of simplicity and ease and speed of control or actuation. Another object is 1:. to provide a signaling transmitter of the abovementioned character that will have a wide range and appropriate flexibility of change of possible code signals, from which selection may be made, without correspondingly increasing production costs and without correspondingly complicating the mechanism. Another object is to provide a mechanism of the above-mentioned character in which selection of the desired code signal may be speedily effected in a simple manner and in which selection of the desired signal, usually corresponding to an individual person to be signaled, may be directly and most conveniently achieved manually.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of the above-mentioned character so constructed, however, that quantity production is facilitated, assembly of the various parts quickly and inexpensively achieved, and a minimum of individual parts utilized. Another object isto provide a construction of the above-mentioned character in which such disadvantages as are frequently attendant upon the employment of flexible electrical conductors for connecting a movable part may be dependably avoided and, moreover, in a thoroughly simple and practical Way, Another object is to provide a mechanism of the abovementioned type capable of easy, quick, and widely flexible manual control, and capable of meeting the widely varying and peculiar conditions of practical use. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the completely assembled selective code signal transmitter, as it appears all ready for actual use;

Figure 2 is an end elevation, as seen from the right-hand end of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is 'a plan view of the operating and controlling mechanism as seen more particularly along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse or vertical sectional view as seen along the line 44 of Figure l, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse or vertical sectional view as seen along the line 55 of Figure 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

The apparatus is preferably so constructed as to have its actual working parts preferably entirely encased and to that .end I provide a casing construction preferably built up and having prefand the part In is preferably so constructed as to comprise, as a unit, the top wall II, the righthand end wall [2, the bottom wall l3, and the left-hand end wall I4, being preferably and conveniently made of sheet metal and formed along or about those edges thereof facing the observer viewing Figure 1 with curved flanges H 12 53 and M respectively, the latter being in crosssection preferably as is better shown in Figure 4.

The casing part Ill is, furthermore, provided with a front plate l5 (Figures 1 and 4) and with a back or closure plate l6 (Figures 2 and 4) to complete the enclosure or casing in a manner described in detail hereinafter. The completed casing with the mechanism therein contained or thereto related, all as later described, may be secured in any suitable manner, as by screws, or the like, to a suitable base plate I! (Figures 1, 2 and 4) which may be provided with rubber or other soft or padded abutments or legs 55 to engage, with a non-scratching or non-marring action, the table, desk, or other support or sup porting surface therefor.

Contained within the casing part if) is a frame comprising preferably two end plates i9 and 29 (Figure 3) rigidly secured together and held in but strong frame dimensioned to be easily receivable within the casing part III. 1

On the cross-rod 23 there is slidably and rotatably mounted a block-like member 25 (Figures 4 and 3) of insulating material, the block member 25 being provided with a sleeve 26 (Figures 3 and 4) which forms an elongated bearing for the block 25 with respect to the cross-rod 23.

The sleeve 26 may be made of any suitable inaterial, preferably of brass, bronze, or the" like, and the fit between the bearing sleeve 28 and the rod 23 is sumciently snug to prevent tilting of the block'ZE and the parts carried thereby out of their intended plane of swinging or of rotation about the axis of the rod 23, but is sumciently loose to permit the block 25, in a manner later described in detail, thereby conveniently moved manually either along the rod 23 or. about the axis of the latter. 4

As is better shown in Figure 4, the block 25, though arcuate in shape throughout its major portion, has an upwardly and leftwardly extended portion that provides a flat supporting surface 25 to which are secured two spring contact members 21 and 28, provided at their left-hand ends and on contiguous faces thereof with contact buttons 29 and 38, respectively, made of a suitable material, adapted to resist the disintegrating eifects of sparking. The spring contact members 21 and 23 are extended to the'right to form contactors 21 and 28 respectively, the latter projecting'to the right of the" supporting block 25. Coacting with and spaced downwardly from the spring contactor 28 is a companion spring contactor 31 whose main body portion 31 parallels portions of the spring contact members Elk-23. Spaced upwardly from the contactor 21 is a similar contactor 32 whose main body portion 32 likewise extends in parallelism with the spring contact members 21-'2B.

The parts 31, 28, 21 and 32 are spaced'from one another by suitable spacers of which spacer 38 is of insulating material and spacers 34 and 35 may or may not be' of insulating material,

as may be desired. The entire assemblage including the somewhat stiffer backing spring members 31 and 38 for the spring contact members 21 and 28, respectively, is secured to the supporting face 25 of the block 25 as by the screws 38, the latter being insulated from the the spring contact member 28 and the pair of contactors 28 -3l which areinelectrical connection with the member 28 and which project to the right of the block 25. This entire assemblage may be slid along the spacer rod 23 and in. any position along the latter it may be, tilted,

all in the manner and for the purposes laterdescribed in detail.

.. cal connection and thus the circuit connected to the contactors 32 21 and 28* 3l may be correspondingly affected. Likewise, this circuit is affected upon release of the spring contact member 21 from its downwardly depressed position.

To efiect actuation of the spring contact mem- "ber 21, I provide a .plurality of cam-like or toothed members 48 (Figures 3 and 4), with any one of which the switching or contact mechanism 21-28 may be selectively associated as is later herein described in detail, these members 48, hereinafter called code members, are in the form of disk-like members whose peripheries are notched or toothed in accordance with the particular set or series of electrical impulses or circuit makes and breaks, which are to make up a particular signal. The devices 48 are preferably of sheet material, thereby lending itself to inexpensive manufacture as by punching or stamping; preferably they are of sheet metal.

In making up the members 48 I preferto stamp, cut, or otherwise form them, uniformly, in the shape of a disk provided with a polygonal,

illustratively hexagonal, central hole 4| (Figure 7 sequences of teeth that, when the particular disk member is uniformly rotated to sweep the teeth slowly past and into engagement with the tongue 21' (Figure 4) the switch or contact mechanism 21-28 is correspondingly actuated.

Thus, referring to Figure 4 in which one of the code members 48 is shown in side elevation, it will be seen that the periphery of the member 48 is provided with two series or sequences T 'I and T T of equidistantly spaced teeth, each sequence or series numbering two sets of 1 three teeth each.

If, therefore, the code member 48 of Figure 4 is rotated uniformly in clockwise direction and has the switch mechanism 21--28 operatively po sitione'd with respect thereto in a manner later describedin detail, a half rotation of the code member 48 causes thesequence T T of two groups of three impulses to be sent over the circuit controlled by the switch mechanism, repre- This senting, illustratively, the code signal 33. is broughtiabout-by the sequence T I A subsequent half rotation effects a repetition of this action in that sequence of teeth 'I' T is brought into action upon the switch mechanism to send the signal impulses corresponding to the code signal 33 through or over the circuit controlled by the switch mechanism. 7

Thus, a single rotation of the code member 48 of Figure 4 effects, in a single rotation, the actuation by the code member of the contact springs 21-28 to make and break the circuit to which the latter are related in sequences representing the signal 33 repeated once; thereby impulses may be sent over the circuit in question to effect, at one or more remote stations, the production in any suitable manner, audibly, visually, or otherwise, of the signal 33 repeated once.

In Figure 3 I have diagrammatically indicated a number of remote stations or points where the thus produced signal, to be reproduced, and these stations are indicated generally by the reference character S. They may take any desired form, as already above indicated, and illustratively they may be in the form of bells, buzzers, sounding horns, or the like. As indicated in Figure 3 these devices S are connected to a circuit comprising the conductors 44 and 45 in one of which, as in conductor 45, there is interposed a suitable source of electrical energy such as a battery 45.

The circuit represented by the conductors 44 45 is carried into the casing construction I0 in any suitable manner, preferably by way of a so-called two-conductor cord 4'! which passes through an insulating and protective bushing 48, preferably in the back plate I6 of the casing structure it, whence the conductors 4445 are secured, respectively, by binding nuts 5!) and 5|, and thereby electrically connected, to conductive bars 52 and 53, the latter being illustratively of brass.

The bars are preferably round in crosssection and are carried by and bridged across the frame plates Ill-28, to which they are secured at their respective ends by nuts 55 (Figures S and 5) suitable insulating bushings and washers 55 being interposed between the nuts, rods, and frame plate members to insulate the bars 52 -53 from each other and from the frame plates il3fi. The bus bars 52-53 may thus also take part in mechanically holding the frame plates l9-22 and related parts in appropriate rigid spaced and assembled relation.

The bus bars 5253, thus extending between the frame plates !9 and 253, are, moreover, positioned, as is better shown in Figure 4, so as to be engaged respectively by the pairs M -21 and M -3V of spring contact members projecting to the right of the insulating block 25, and to be received between these yielding contact members when the latter, with block 25, are swung in clockwise direction and into the position shown in Figure i. It is in that position, as already indicated above, that the upper contact spring 21 has its tongue end 2? positioned to be actuated by the teeth of the selected code member 48.

Though the block 25, with the parts carried thereby, may be slid along the cross-rod 23 in order to select in a manner hereinafter described, one of the code members do to actuate the spring contacts 2l128, the bus bars 52-53 make it possibie to bring the contacts into the above described electrical circuit at any point in the path of travel of the contact-carrying block along its supporting rod 23.

The code members as, provided with differently arranged sequences of teeth so that as many different signals may be transmitted as there are code members M, are, as already above-mentioned, preferably of sheet metal and they are mounted on a shaft iii (Figure 4) to which they are non-rotatably secured in any suitable manner.

However, to secure certain important practical advantages, both by way of lowering cost of manufacture and facilitating assembly and making for reliability of operation, I prefer to give the shaft 8 a polygonal cross-section, illustratively hexagonal, as is shown in Figure l, the hole 45 in the code members 40 being also hexagonal but larger dimensioned. Into the hole 4| of the code members 46 there is inserted, preferably with a somewhat tight or press fit, an insulating hub Bl (Figure 4) which is made preferably by cutting off short sections of hexagonal tubing of fiber, hard rubber, or other insulating material, the tubing being interiorly dimensioned to snugly receive therein the hexagonal shaft 56. The sections of tubing thus to form the hub members iii are of an axial length equal to the th ckness of the sheet metal of the code members 453.

The shaft 6i? (Figure 3) is provided at its righthand end with a shoulder 62 and at its left-hand end it is turned down and threaded as at 53, whereby it may receive a nut 64.

Onto the hexagonal portion of the shaft 60 the code members 40 are now all strung, each, as Will now be clear, having a hexagonal hub member 6| (Figure 4) of insulating material; in thus stringing them onto the hexagonal part of the shaft 69, however, the code members it are alternated with disk-like insulating washers 65 and a spacer 65 (Figure 3) also of insulating material and which conveniently and preferably is also a cut off short section of the above-mentioned hexagonal insulating tube. As is clearly shown in Figure 3, there is an'insulating disklike washer 65 on each side of each code member 48 with a hexagonal spacer member 66 between adjacent insulating washers 55. Thereby the code members 46 are uniformly spaced apart at regular intervals, rotation of any code member relative to the shaft 5!) is reliably precluded, while the stringing of all of the code members 40 onto the shaft 60 with the starting point of all of the teeth sequences thereon all alined is greatly facilitated and simplified. As appears in the illustrative showing of Figure 4, the code members 40 all have a gap in the teeth sequences along the lowermost peripheral portion thereof, with respect to which portion the tongue 21b of the contact spring 21 is initially positioned, as will later be made clearer; accordingly, so long as the shaft 6% with the code members 40 thereon is always brought back to its normal position of rest, being that position shown in Figure 4, the above-mentioned gap in the teeth sequences provides an axially extending gap along which the contact spring end 272) may be moved and properly positioned to select any one of the code members 4B, and thereby it is always certain that the starting of the rotation of the shaft 69 will always properly start the transmission of the selected signal.

Referring again to Figure 3, the tightening up of the nut 64 onto the threaded portion 63 of the shaft 62 securely clamps all of the code members with the insulating washers and spacers alternated therewith, between the shoulder 62 and the nut 64, insulating washers 65 being interposed between the endmost code members 48 and the shoulder 62 and nut 64, respectively. The assembly of the code members 49 with respect to the shaft 63 will thus be seen also to lend itself not merely to quick assembly but also to quick disassembly in case it is desired to replace one or more of the code members 49.

The shaft 6i] itself is preferably demountably supported in the frame structure which includes the frame plates l829.

At its right-hand end the shaft 6!? is provided with a detachable coupling which may take the form of a coaxial hub-like member within which may be received the end of a shaft 68, a suitable set screw or the like in the hub member 61 securing it to the shaft 58. The latter is a driving shaft and may be driven in any suitable manner, preferably, however, in the manner later described herein.

At its left-hand end the shaft 60 is provided with a suitable conical recess or center into which is projected and appropriately positioned the pivot end 59 of a pivot screw 78 threaded into the frame plate l9 and provided with a lock nut H to lock it and hence the pivot 68 in adjusted position.

With this mounting of the shaft 68 the latter, with the code members 48 may be taken quickly out of the interior frame structure, for such purposes as have illustratively been noted above.

As above indicated, the driving shaft58 may, in so far as certain features of my invention are concerned, be driven in any suitable manner, but in order to achieve certain advantageous coactions and certain other results, the shaft $58 and hence the code members 48 are driven by a suitably manually controlled driving means which preferably takes the following form:

Mounted upon the interior frame structure and preferably secured to the plate 28 thereof and to the left of the latter, as viewed in Figure 3, is an auxiliary frame structure comprising spaced plates l5 and H shaped as is better shown in Figure 4, in which the plate 18 is seen in side elevation; the plates l8l| are held in spaced relation by suitable spacers l2 and the resultant auxiliary frame structure l8lll2 is secured to the end frame plate 28 as by screws 13 threaded into the plate H, suitable washers or spacers i i being interposed therebetween. Rotatably mounted in the plates lilll is the above-mentioned drive shaft 68, its left-hand end, as viewed in Figure 3, extending through the left-hand plate 78, thus to be exposed for connection thereto of the shaft 80 which carries the code members 48. The shaft 88, intermediate of the plates t-l l, is provided with a spur gean'i5 (Figures 2 and 3) which meshes with a materially larger gear 'iii rotatably supported on a shaft H which in turn is rotatably supported in the plates ED- l i. To the right of the gear 76 is a spiral spring l8, one end of which, preferably the outer end thereof, is anchored to the frame l'B-ll in any suitable manner, as by looping the end over one of the spacer studs 12, and the other or; inner end of which is secured or anchored to the shaft l'l. The spring l8 has its convolutions extend in such a direction that, if the shaft ll is given a rotary movement in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, the spring is tensioned or wound up to a commensurate extent.

Rigidly secured to the shaft ll but to the left of the gear '18 (Figure 3) is a ratchet wheel 19 (see also Figure 2) and coacting with the ratchet wheel if; is a pawl 88 pivoted in any suitable manner to the left-hand side face of the gear 76, a suitable spring biasing the pawl against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 19.

The right-hand end of the shaft Tl, as viewed in Figure 3, extends beyond the plate I! of the auxiliary frame and extends also through a suit able aperture in the frame end plate 28; juxtaposed thereto there is provided in the right-hand end wall 52 an opening l2 through which, in the course of assembly, is inserted the hub 88 of a crank arm 88 (Figures 3 and 2) whose outer end is provided with a finger piece 80 The inner end of the hub 8!!" slides over the right-hand end of the shaft TI and a driving connection therebetween is effected, in any suitable manner, as by a set screw 8i (Figure 3), access to which, as with a screw driver, is gained through the rear opened end of the casing structure II], the rear wall I6 being removable as is later described.

Accordingly, depression of the finger piece 80* (Figures 3, 2 and 1) throughout a suitable arc causes a corresponding rotary movement of shaft Tl, thus to correspondingly tension the spring 18, and also causes a corresponding rotary movement of the ratchet wheel 19 whose teeth extend in such a direction that they by-pass the spring pressed pawl 88 on the side face of the gear 16. Subsequent release of the lever 80 causes rotation of the shaft 'I'l in reverse direction but now under the energy released by the tensioned spring 18, the ratchet wheel 19 now driving the gear 16 through the pawl 88. Gear 16 drives the gear 75 and hence the driving shaft 58 and through it the shaft 68 with the code members 48 thereon.

In order to insure uniformity of speed of rotation of the code members, I provide a suitable governor for controlling the rate at which the tensioned spring 78 can release its energy to rotate the code members 48. This governor preferably comprises a cup-shaped member 82 (Figures 3, 4 and 2) secured to the left-hand face of the frame plate '30 in any suitable manner, and pr0- vided with an annular rim 83 against whose inner cylindrical surface bear two friction members 83-85 (Figure 4) made, for example, of a suitable fibrous material such as cotton, and carried in the outer ends of the cylindrical weights B6 and 8], respectively. The weights 88Bl are slidably mounted on a two-armed spider whose arms 88 and 39 are 180 apart and whose hub 98 is secured to a shaft 91.

The shaft 9! is rotatably mounted in the auxiliary frame plates 'l81l (Figure 3) and has a small spur gear 92 (Figures 3 and 2).

Through suitable gearing of appropriate gear ratio, the shaft 9|, and hence the governor weights 86-8l are rotated or driven at a materially higher speed than the driving shaft 88. and this gearing may comprise a large gear 93 (Figures 3 and 2) mounted on the shaft 88 adjacent the inside face of the plate (8 to drive a small gear 94 on a shaft 95 likewise rotatably supported in the frame plates l0'!l. The shaft 95 in turn carries a large gear 96 which meshes with the gear 92 of the governor shaft 9|, thus completing the governor drive gearing above-mentioned.

Accordingly, substantial uniformity of speed of the code members 48 with resultant accuracy of spacing of time intervals, as determined by the spacing between the teeth and/ or teeth sequences on the code members 9, is dependably assured.

Should the spring l8 tend to drive the code members too fast, the resultant tendency is at once transmitted to the governor shaft 9| but in a greatly magnified manner and as a result of the resultant tendency to increase the speed of rotation of the slidable governor weights 88-81, the latter are pressed against the rim 83 with a greater force, thus increasing the friction and thus restoring the speed to normal and thus promptly correcting tendencies to depart from the latter.

The left-hand end of the shaft H is carried through and beyond the left-hand auxiliary frame plate '10 (Figures 3 and 4) and it has secured thereto, in the manner shown in Figures 3 40, 'and hence substantially 36 before the next tooth and 4, a stop arm 91 which may coact with a stop pin or stud 98 secured to the outer face of the plate 10 and positioned in the path of rotary movement of the stop arm 91. Being anchored to the shaft H, the stop arm partakes of the same rotary movements as does the shaft 11 itself, and it is so positioned with respect to the shaft "I1 and the stop stud 98 that it engages the latter, when shaft ll and hence stop arm 91 are rotated by the spring 78 (in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4), and stop the rotation of all of the parts at such a point that all of the code members 40 are brought to the position shown in Figure 4 in which, as earlier noted, the lowermost portions of the peripheries of the code 'members 40 are devoid of teeth to provide for the gaps or spacings which represent the starting points of subsequent code or signal transmitting operations of the code members. The stop arm 91 in coaction with the stud 98 thus insures that the code members 40 are always brought to a point. i

The gear ratio of the gear train that drives the shaft 60 with the code members Ml thereon preferably bears a certain relation to the construction and action of the pawl 80 and ratchet wheel 19 (Figure 3). For example I may give the ratchet wheel 19 say ten teeth and thereby I make certain that the finger piece lever 80 (Figures 3 and 2) must be given* a manual rotation, in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, of at least one-tenth of a complete revolution on the ratchet wheel 18 is brought into coaction with the pawl 80; this gear ratio, furthermore, is

such that, if the lever 80 is now released, the

stored energy in the spring 18 starts driving the parts and is suflicient to give the shaft 60 carrying the code members 40 one complete revolution,

during which the stop member 91 (Figure 4) is again returned to contact and stopping relation As earlier above noted, such a spending signal twice in succession.

If, however, it is desired to cause additional I repetitions of the selected signal, the initial actu- "ation of the lever 80 or even the subsequent actuation thereof, is caused to bring about a downward swinging thereof, as viewed in Figure 2, throughout twice the above-mentioned illustrative angle and hence throughout an angle of about 72; during such actuation the ratchet wheel 19 is rotated throughout a distance or angle of two of its teeth, the pawl being brought into coaction with the second tooth, and the resultant driving of the shaft 60 causes the latter to partake of two uninterrupted complete revolutions, the selected code member thereby effecting the transmission of the signal four times in succession. Of course, the stop arm 91 has been swung through twice the angle, being coaxial with the finger piece lever 80, so that its return movement under the action of the spring 18 is throughout a path twice as long, during which the shaft 6|] partakesof two complete rotations as just noted.

The operator, due to the coaction of the parts as just mentioned, therefore must always achieve a downward swinging of the lever 8i] throughout at least either of two minimum angles corresponding respectively to one and two teeth on the ratchet wheel 19 if the angle of swing is less than the angle of one tooth, the lever 31], when released, simply returns to normal under the action of the spring 19. If the angle of swing is greater than the angle of one tooth but less than the angle subtended by two teeth, the lever 8% when released simply moves in reverse direction under the action of the spring 18 until the first tooth that has bypassed the pawl 80 is brought into engagement with the latter. In any case, the operator can always tell whether the angle of swing is adequate either for a single rotation of the code members or two successive rotations thereof and this is accomplished preferably by giving the spring mounting of the pawl 8:) sufficient tension that an easily audible click results when a tooth of the ratchet wheel 19 bypasses the pawl 80. The operator therefore may guide his swinging of the operating lever 89 throughout the desired angle by noting the telltale click or clicks of the pawl. Thus, also, improper actuation of a code member is dependably precluded and it is virtually impossible for the operator to garble a selected signal in its transmission.

As earlier above described, the insulating block 25 (Figure 4) that carries the spring contact members is slidable along the rod 23 to select, preferably in the manner later described in detail, the desired one of the several code members it on the shaft 60 (Figure 3) likewise it is tiltable about the axis of the rod 23. To effect manually sliding or certain tilting movements of the member 25, the latter has secured thereto at its front edge, as viewed in Figure 3, and at its righthand face, as viewed in Figure 4, a stud it i, preferably of metal and conveniently threaded into the hub portion of the member 25. It projects through the front wall [5 of the casing construc tion Ill for coaction with certain unique features later to be described in detail and at its outer end it carries a knob or handle H12 whereby it may be easily grasped by the fingers of the hand and the member 25 manipulated.

Disregarding for the moment certain preferred controls of the sliding movement of the member 25 along the rod 23 and considering first the tilting movements of which it is capable about the axis of the rod 23, it is first to be noted that member 25 has secured to it a spring I83 (Figure 4) preferably in the form of a leaf spring whose lower or unanchored end bears against the earlier above-mentioned cross-rod 22 of the interior frame structure. Spring I03 tends to swing the member 25 in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, hence tends to swing the handle I02 upwardly. Moreover, and since the rod 22 extends throughout the length of the path of sliding movement of the member 25, the spring I03 may slide lengthwise of the rod 22 as the member 25 is slid along the rod 23, and thus proper action of the spring I03 is assured no matter what position that the member 25 is given lengthwise of the rod 23.

The spring I03 is thus always capable, when permitted, to swing the member 25 in counterclockwise direction (Figure 4), thereby to move the spring contact tongue 2'! out of the path of possible movement of the teeth on the code members 40 and also to move the two pairs of spring 1 contacts at the right of the'member 25 out of engagement with the bus bar members 52, 53.

The under face of the upper left-hand portion of the member 25, as viewed in Figure 4, isprovided with two notches 25 and 25 selectively coactive with a rod I04 (Figures 3, 4 and 5) which has anchored to its ends links I06 and I01, thereby forming in effect a. yoke, the lower ends of the links being apertured to receive therethrough the frame cross-rod 22 sufiiciently loosely to permit the U-shaped yoke to pivot freely about the cross-rod 22.

In Figure 4 this yoke is shown so positioned that the rod I04 is'seated in the notch 25 of the member 25, thus holding the latter against rotation in counter-clockwise direction. A spring I 08 (Figure 3) mounted and related to these parts, as is shown in Figure and having its coils extending about the rod 22, acts yieldingly to move and hold the yoke and hence rod I04 in the position shown in Figure 4.

Thus, as viewed in Figure 4, the rod I04 tends to be moved in clockwise direction by the spring I08 while member 25 tends to be moved in counter-clockwise direction by its spring I03. By these interactions rod I84 may be held seated in either notch 25 or notch 25 (Figure 4) of the member 25, member 25 with the parts carried by it assuming corresponding positions of tilt about the axis of rod 23.

Rod I04, as is better shown in Figure 3, extends parallel to the rod 23 along which the member 25 with its spring contacts is slidable and it is of sufficient length to insure that it can and will coact with either of the notches in the member 25 irrespective of what position the latter assumes lengthwise of its supporting rod 23. At its lefthand end, as viewed in Figure 3, the rod I04 has extending underneath it and engaging it a release cam I09 whose hub III] is carried by and freely rotatable on the frame cross-rod 23 (see Figures 3 and 5). Threaded into the hub H0 is a stud or rod H I which projects through a suitable slot I I2 (see Figure 1) in the front wall I5 of the casing structure I0, whereby the hub and its cam I09 are prevented from sliding lengthwise of the rod 23 but may be given a rotation to the extent permitted by the vertical dimension of the slot II2, the stud III having threaded or otherwise detachably secured thereto at its outerend (Figure 5) a knob or handle II3 for manipulating the cam I09.

The cam I09 is shaped substantially as shown in Figure 5 and it as well as the handle H3, is

held in the position shown in Figure 5 by the' locking rod I04 which is, at this stage, engaged in the notch 25 of member 25 and henceis related to the latter as shown in Figure 4. If,

however, the knob I I3 (Figure 5) is depressed, the

cam member 409 cams the rod I04 to theright against the action of spring I08, thus effecting a counter-clockwise movement of the rod I04, as viewed in Figure 4, and thereby forcibly moving it out of the notch 25. Since, however, spring I03 (Figure 4) of the member 25 always tends to swing the latter in counter-clockwise direction about the rod 23, it causes the notched edge of the member 25 to follow up the-change in position of the member I 04 and to maintain contact with the latter, the locking rod I04 becoming by this continued follow-up movement seated in notch 25'; this latter action is accompanied by a counterclockwise swinging of the member 25 about its supporting rod 23, thereby bringing the contact tongue I? out of the path of'movement of the teeth of the code member or members and also disengaging the two pairs of spring contacts from the bus bars 52-53.

The above described coaction of the springs I08 and I03 (Figures 4 and 5) with their related parts insures the holding of the member 25 in this position. If, now, however, member 25 is tilted about the-rod 23 by depressing the handle I02 (Figure 4) such-action effects a disengagement of the notch 25* from the rod I04, the spring I08 of the latter now causing it to follow up the notched edge of the member 25 with the result that the locking rod I04 becomes again seated in the notch 25, the member 25 and related parts there by becoming positioned and held and locked as shown in Figure 4.

However, in accordance with certain other coacting features of my invention, the sliding or tilting movement of the member 25 (Figure 4) with the'contact members carried thereby is preferably effected only under certain definitely controlled conditions, thereby making for foolproof manual operation or control of the apparatus and achieving other important advantages. In this connection certain features of the front wall of the casing structure I0 (Figures 1 and 4) through which the control levers or handles IOI--I02 and III-II3 project, as already above mentioned, will be stated. This front Wall member I5 is preferably of sheet metal, is generally of rectangular shape, and is dimensioned so that it is readily receivable into the casing structure I0 from the rear thereof (the left-hand end as viewed in Figure 4) and is of sufficient extent to be brought into abutting relation to the inner ends of'the curved'fiange portions II I2 I3*-I I* of the wall portions II--I2 I3 and I4, respectively (see Figures 1, 4 and 3). Preferably, this front wall plate I5 is secured to the above-described frame structure which, as is now clear, comprises the frame plates I920 (Figure 3) and the connecting cross-rods, such as the rods 2!, 22', 23, etc. (Figure 4). Conveniently, this front plate I5 may be secured to the frame plates I9-20 (Figure 3) as by sheet metal angle members H5 and H6 whose webs or flanges may be secured in any suitable manner, illustratively as by spot welding, to the plates I9I5 and -I5, respectively. Moreover, and as better appears in Figure 4, the three plates I9, I5 and 20have their lower edges in the same plane and hence these edges may directly engage and rest upon any suitable supporting surface when the interior frame with the parts carried thereby is out of the casing structure I0 or upon the bottom wall I3 (Figure 4) when the frame structure with its parts is inserted into the casing structure I0.

In this front plate or wall I5 I provide a horizontally extending slot I I! (see Figures 1 and 4), the length of the slot being commensurate with the extent of sliding movement of the contactcarrying member alongits supporting rod 23 (Figures 3 and 4).

It is through slot I I! that the rod or lever arm IOI (Figure 4) that carries the knob I02'for controlling the sliding and tilting of the member 25, extends, and the slot II! is of sufiicient'length to accommodate the lever arm IOI throughout the range of sliding movement of the lever 25necessary to traverse the contact members 27, 28'with respect to the maximum number of code members (Figure 3) with which the shaft is provided.

The upper edge II8 (Figure 1) of this slot H1 is preferablystraight' and isat'such' a height commodated in the slot II! when the member 25 assumes its tilted position in which the lock arm I 04 is seated in the notch 25 (Figure 4), that being the position, it will be recalled, in which the spring contact tongue 21 is held out of the path of movement of the teeth on the code members 40 and in which the right-hand pairs of contact springs are mechanically and electrically disconnected from the bus bars 5253. Accordingly, with the knob I02 in its corresponding uppermost position, undue movement beyond that position being prevented by the straight edge I I 3 of the slot III, the knob or handle I02 may be grasped by the hand and moved to the right or the left within the range permitted by the length of the slot N1, the member 25 (Figures 4 and 3) with the parts carried thereby being correspondingly slid along the supporting rod 23.

Now the lower edge of the slot II'I (see now Figure 1) is toothed, being provided with teeth I I9 having therebetween spaces I20, the spaces I20 being spaced center to center just as are the code disks or members 40 (Figure 3) on the shaft 60 and also alined with the latter. Thereby there is provided a slot I 20 allocated to and alined with respect to each one of the code members 40 on the shaft 60. The slots I20, moreover, are of a width snugly to accommodate therein the lever arm or handle shank IOI (Figures 4 and 3) if the latter is pushed downwardly against the action of the spring I03 (Figure 4). Since, as appears from Figure 3, the shank or stud IOI on the member 25 is alined with or is on the center line of the spring contact members 2! and 28, the entry of the shank IiII into a selected slot I20 insures that the spring contact members 21-28 and particularly the contact tongue 21* (Figure 4) become alined with respect to and associated with only one code member 45, that being the one to which the particular slot I20 is juxtaposed or allocated. It thus becomes impossible to set the spring contact members in a position where the contact tongue might can be actuated at the same time by the teeth of two or more code members. Moreover, this feature insures such nicety and precision of positioning of the spring contact that it is possible greatly to decrease the spacing between code members 40 and thus greatly to increase the number of the latter per unit length of the shaft 50 than would otherwise be the case.

The bottoms of the slots I20 (Figure l) are alined along a line parallel to the axis of the supporting rod 23 or parallel to the upper edge I I8 of the slot II'I so that uniformity of limiting action takes place. Moreover, the depths of the slots I20 are such that the member 25 (Figure 4) may be swung by depressing the knob I52 throughout an angle just sufiicient to bring the contact tongue 2'! into the path of the teeth of the selected code member 40, to bring the two pairs of spring contacts into good mechanical and electrical engagement with the bus bars 52-53, and to permit the lock bar i0 1, under the action of its spring I08 (Figures 4 and 5) dependably to follow up the contour edge of the member 25 and to ride out of the recess 25* and into the recess or notch 25, this latter action causing the locking yoke dependably to hold the member 25 and its related parts in these positions, all as shown in Figure 4.

The height of the teeth H9, however, bears a certain preferred relation to certain other parts in order to achieve certain other important advantages. The upper ends of the teeth H9 (Figure 1) are alined along a line parallel to the axis of the supporting rod 23 (Figure 4) or parallel to the upper straight edge I I8 (Figure 1) of the slot II 'I and this alinement or line is at such a spacing downwardly from the straight edge II8 as to restrict the extent to which the knob I22 may be held downwardly away from the edge IIB as the knob I02 with the member 25 and related parts is moved to the right or left.

This restriction is such that, turning now to Figure 4, it is assured that the block 25 cannot he slid along the rod 23 in such a tilted position that the contact tongue .2? crosses the path of movement of the teeth of the code members 40, whether the latter are standing still or rotating. Thereby, freedom of sliding movement, necessary to select the proper code member for coaction with the spring contacts, is assured, and colliding of a spring contact or a contact tongue with a code member or teeth of a code member is d-ependably precluded.

Over the front face of the front plate I5 (Figures 1, 4 and 3) is secured a plate I22, as by screws I23, whereby the plate I22 is detacnably secured in place. Plate I22 is provided with a horizontally extending slot I24 which frames in, as it were, the slot II! of the plate I with its teeth I59 and slots I 20. If desired, its vertical end edge and its upper horizontal edge coin ide with the corresponding edges of the slot II! and such a relation is shown in Figure Thus, the control knob or lever I02 is accessible through this auxiliary plate I22. Similarly, the latter has a vertically extending slot I25 which mates with the slot I I2 in the plate I5 (Figures 1 and 5) to accommodate the shank Ill of the cam I09 and again to leave the operating knob II3 accessible at the front of the front wall.

Spaced upwardly from the horizontal slot or opening I25 (Figure l) in the auxiliary plate member i22 is a rectangular opening or windowlike aperture I25, the intervening strip I2? of the sheeet metal of the plate I22 being marked off in any suitable manner, as by stamping or impressing, into areas I28 generally rectangular in shape but each terminating at its lower end in a point or apex, substantially as shown in Figure 1. There is one such marked out area I28 for each slot I20 and hence for each code member 40 and, as shown in Figure 1, each area 28 is on the vertical center line of the slot I20 to which it is juxtaposed or allocated. The apex or point at the bottom of each member I28 thus points directly at the slot or recess I20 to which it is allocated.

In each area I28 is printed, stamped, impressed, or otherwise indicated, the numerical number or code according to which the teeth of its allocated code member are cut or arranged. In Figure 1 illustrative code numbers are indicated. Thus, reading from left to right, the code numbers identifying the corresponding code members (Figure 3) with respect to which the contactcarrying member 25 may be selectively set, through the mechanisms and coactions above described, will be seen to be 121, 2, 3, 4, etc.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be noted that the front plate I5 is pressed rearwardly (to the left) as at I30 to form a rectangular seat or recess which is a little larger in both length and breadth than the opening or window I26 (Figure l) in the auxiliary plate I22 in this recess I30 is seated a cardboard sheet I3I covered over by a trans-- parent member I32 which may be of Celluloid, glass, or the like, these parts being held in the recess by the auxiliary plate I22. The paper or construction.

cardboard sheet I 3! is ruled 01f (see Figure 1) by parallel lines I33 inclined at an angle substantially as shown and forming in effect inclined extensions of the areas I28 above-mentioned. In the spaces between successive lines I33 are written, printed, or lettered the names of the different individuals to whom a code number has been allocated or assigned. The sheet I3I will be seen to be readily accessible since it may be easily slid out of its seat I30 when the plates I5 and I22 (Figures 1 and 4) are separated upon loosening the screws I23. Thus, the names or other indicia which it bears may be easily changed, applied, added to or subtracted from, and the sheet I3I put back in place.

The entire mechanism, as above already noted, will thus be seen to be carried by an internal frame with which, for greater convenience in assembly and construction, the front plate I5 and its coacting parts are secured. With the handle 85 removed from this internal frame and structure, the latter may be slid into the casing through the open rear end (the end normally closed by the back plate I5 of Figures 3 and 4). Suitable screws I34 (Figure 4) are passed through suitable openings in the base IT and are threaded into suitable ears or lugs I35 that extend horizontally from the bottom edges of the main frame plates I92Il. Thereby the internal frame with the mechanism is held in assembled relation to the casing construction and the front plate I5 caused snugly to engage the curved or flanged edges Il I2 I3 14 and close the otherwise open end of the casing structure.

Thereby the shaft 1! (Figure 3) becomes juxtaposed to the hole I2 in the side wall I2 and through the latter the hub 8i! of the crank lever 88 may be slipped onto the shaft I? and the set screw 8|, operated by a screw driver from the rear open end, driven home. The rear cover plate I5 may then be put in place being secured by screws I45 (Figures 2 and 3) threaded into ears or lugs extending forwardly from the back plate I6 and receivable interiorly of the casing The back plate I6 may be thus assembled after the cord conductor 41 has already been put through the bushing 48 therein.

Accordingly, if the operator is called upon to signal an individual by way of the various signaling devices S of Figure 3, the operator grasps the handle I02 (normally in its uppermost position) and slides it along the slot In (Figure 1) until it is brought opposite the lower pointed edge of the area I28 which forms the downward continuation of that space between two of the lines I33 that bears the name of the individual to be signalled.

Having done that, it being borne in mind that the handle II3 (Figures 1 and 5) is normally in its lowermost position and that the stop bar I04 (Figure 4) is engaged in the recess or notch 25 the operator neXt pushes the knob or handle I02 downwardly, thus tilting the member 25 (Figure 4) into the position shown in Figure 4 to bring the contact tongue Zl in the path of movement of the teeth of the selected code member 45 and to bring the two pairs of contact springs 32 2l and 28 3 I (Figure 4) into mechanical and electrical engagement with the bus bars 52-53, respectively; the downward movement of the knob I52 carries the shank IBI (Figure 4) downwardly into a slot I20, as already above described, thereby insuring that the contact tongue 21 is properly alined with respect to the selected code member and insuring that the contact springs are dependably held in a position free from engagement therewith by an adjacent code member.

As the contact-carrying member 25 is moved into the above-described position as shown in Figure 4, the lock bar I64 rides out or" the recess 25 and into the recess 25, thus holding the parts in their above-described position, in the manner already above described in detail. At the same time the lock bar I54 (Figure 5) swings the knob II3 into its uppermost position, due to the lock bar I64 engaging the cam member I29.

Thus, the contact springs 21-28 (Figure 4) are dependably positioned and locked in such position for proper coaction with the selected code member; movement of the member 25 and hence of the contact springs is definitely precluded by the interaction of the shank II]! with its slot l2@ and due to the coaction of the lock bar Hi l. The shank Ifil substantially bottoms in its slot #25, thus preventing further clockwise swinging of the member 25 (Figure 4) while the lock bar I54 prevents counter-clockwise swinging thereof. And the relatively snug fit of the shank Hi in the slot I25 holds the member 25 and the parts carried by it against movement lengthwise of the supporting rod 23.

Not only are the contact springs 2l28 thus reliably held in proper coacting relation to a selected code member 40 but also the contact springs 2'I28 become thereby dependably connected to the circuit 4445 (Figure 3) through the engagement of the two pairs of contact springs with the bus bars 52-53. Accordingly, the spring contacts 2l--28 are cooperatively related to the signaling circuit and, it will be noted, I am enabled to accomplish this while eliminating the many mechanical, electrical and other disadvantagesthat accompany the use of long flexible conductors.

Next the operator pushes down the lever (Figures 1, 2 and 3) and if it is desired that the signal be sent twice, the angle through which the lever 39 is thus swung is that angle corresponding to the termination of the first click sounded by the pawl (Figure 3). If it is desired to send the signal four times in succession, the lever 88 is swung through twice this angle, an angle determined by the second click sounded by the pawl 88. code members 40 ensues as was above described in detail, the teeth of the selected code member coacting with the spring contacts 2'i28 to send the corresponding current impulses over the circuit 4445.

In the illustrative embodiment, the shaft 55 .which carries the code members 4i; makes one revolution in the one case and two complete revolutions in the second above-mentioned case, each and 5), thereby causing the cam or lever arm I59 (Figure 5) to trip the lock arm I54 out of the notch 25 (Figure 4) in the member 25, thereby causing the spring IIl3 to swing the member 25 with the contact members carried thereby in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4, the lock arm I04 engaging in the recess 25 and being held in that position and thereby holding also the member 25 with its contact members,

The rotation of the shaft 65 with the and also the knob I 02, in their normal or ineffective position. Thus, the contact spring 21 may at any time be tripped out of operative relation to the selected code member 40 and either during the sending of a signal or after the completion of the transmission of code impulses. In either case, the mechanism is thereby set for subsequent actuation, in a manner that will now be clear in View of all of the foregoing.

In this latter connection it might be noted that the manual actuation or control of the mechanism is entirely foolproof. For example, the slot II I (Figure 1) and related parts, such as the height of the teeth II9, insures that the member 25 (Figure 4) with its spring contacts 2l23 cannot be given a sliding movement lengthwise of the rod 23 unless it is so positioned that colliding or interference of the spring contact or contacts with the code wheel or wheels cannot take place, and this, moreover, irrespective of whether the code wheel or wheels be stationary or rotating. Furthermore, the lock arm tile and its control knob H3 are preferably arranged, as in the illustrative embodiment, so that they must first be actuated in releasing direction before the selector knob I 02 can be actuated; this insures that the member 25 assumes its ineffective position, namely, tilted in counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 4, and that this tilted position, dependably limited by the coaction of the lock bar I04- with the notch 25 is first achieved before sliding movement of the member 25 with its spring contacts can be started.

Furthermore, the interrelation of the selector knob I02 (Figure 1) with the slots I29, the code directory I28, I28, etc., and the name or place directory I33, I33, etc., makes for speed and sin plicity in making a selection and insures minimum occurrence of error.

Furthermore, the apparatus will be seen to be compact, simple and reliable in construction and operation, readily accessible for replacement, rearrangement, adjustment or repair, and otherwise well adapted to meet the varying conditions of hard practical use, and it will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention an apparatus in which the various objects above noted together with many thoroughly practical advan tages, are successfully achieved.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. In a signaling apparatus having a plurality of rotatable coded cam members and contact means to be operated thereby, in combination, a rotatably mounted shaft of polygonal cross-section, a plurality of metal coded cam members, each apertured to be received on said shaft and each having mounted in its aperture an axially short section of a tube of insulating material whose opening is of polygonal cross-section sun cient to snugly receive therein said shaft, and means spacing adjacent coded cam members axially from one another.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the apertures in the coded cam members are also of polygonal shape and in which the exterior shape of said tubular sections is. of similar polygonal shape and received within said apertures, whereby said shaft, said insulating sections and said cam members are non-rotatably assembled.

3. In signaling apparatus, a sub-assembly for insertion into a casing structure open at a face thereof, comprising, in combination, a frame structure insertable into said casing structure, said frame structure comprising two end plates with a plurality of tie-rods connected to said end plates and holding them in spaced relation and a closure plate extending parallel to said tie-rods and forming a closure for the open face of said casing structure when said frame structure is inserted into the latter, said frame struc ture carrying signaling mechanism which includes at least a manually operable member projecting through said closure plate, carrier means slidably and tiltably mounted on one of said tierods, means connecting said manually operable member to said carrier means whereby it is movable with respect to said closure plate lengthwise in response to sliding movement of sai carrier means and transversely in response to tilting of said carrier means, said closure plate having aperture means through which said member projects, and which signaling mechanism includes another manually operable member projecting through an aperture in said closure plate and locking and releasing means movably supported by another of said tie-rods and capable upon movement into one position to hold said carrier means in the position to which it had been moved by said first-mentioned manually operable member and upon movement into another position to release said carrier means for movement out of the position into which it had been moved by said first-mentioned manually operable member, and means forming an operative connection between said second-mentioned manually operable member and said locking and releasing means.

4. In signalin apparatus, a sub-assembly for insertion into a casing structure open at a face thereof, comprising, in combination, a frame structure insertable into said casing structure and having a closure plate for closing the open face of the latter when said frame structure is. inserted into said casing structure and two end plates extending at right angles to said closure plate and a plurality of cross-tie-rods connected to said end plates, said frame structure carrying electric. signaling mechanism which includes a carrier means for controlling the latter, means movably supporting said carrier means upon one of said tie-rods for movement th realong relative to said closure plate, a manually operable member having connection with said carrier means, said m mber projecting through said closure plate for actuation from the exterior of said casing structure, said closure plate being apertured in a direction lengthwise of said tierods whereby said manual member may be moved lengthwise of the latter and hence said carrier means moved along its tie-rod, means insulating at least one of said tie rods from said end plates, contact means movable with said carrier means and coacting with said insulated tie rods as said manual member is positioned along said aperture.

5. In a signaling apparatus having a switching means, in combination, a frame structure com prising two spaced end plates and a plurality of cross-tie-rods for holding said plates spaced, motive means carried by said frame, a shaft of polygonal cross-section having mounted thereon a plurality of metal coded cam members which are apertured to be received on said shaft and each of which has mounted in its 'aperture an" axially short section of a tube of insulating material whoseopening is of polygonal cross-section sulficient to receive therein said shaft, each of said cam members having a signal-starting point means detachably mounting said shaft with respect to said frame structure for rotation about an axis parallel to at least one of said tie-rods and including a detachable driving connection with said motive means,rwhereby said shaft may be quickly removed from said frame structure for rearrangement or replacement of said coded cam members lengthwise of said shaft and the signal-starting points of said cam members brought into and held in appropriate alinement lengthwise of said shaft by properly relating said polygonal openings to said polygonal shaft, and supporting means for said switching means mounting the latter to said one tie-rod for movement lengthwise of the latter and substantially parallel to said shaft and to said alinement of said signal-starting points of said coded cam members, whereby said switching means may be selectively positioned with respect to said code members.

6. In a signaling apparatus having a switching means, in combination supporting frame means comprising two spaced end members'and a plurality of cross-tie-rods for holding said end members in spaced relationship, mounting means for said switching means for supporting it' upon one of said tie-rods'for selective movement lengthwisethereof, a shaft having a polygonal crosssection and having strung thereon a plurality of coded cam means-each having a signal-starting point and which have apertures to substantially match the polygonal cross-section of said shaft whereby their signal-starting points may be properly alined lengthwise of said shaft and relative to said selective movement of said mounting means and said cam means are non-rotatably related to said shaft, and means comprising readily demountable bearing means carried by said frame means for rotatably supporting said shaft in a position to present said cam means with their alined signal-starting points to selective co action with said switching means according to the position of said mounting means along said one tie-rod and whereby said shaftwith its cam means may be readily demounted for replacement or rearrangement of said cam means.

7. In a signaling apparatus having a switching means, in combination, means forming a main support, carrier means for said switching means, means movably mounting said carrier means for movement relative to said main support and along a certain path whereby said switching means partakes of similar movement, a metal shaft of polygonal cross-section having strung thereon a plurality of metal coded cam members each of which has a signal-starting point and has a bushing of insulating material whose aperture is of a shape to substantially match the polygonal cross-section of said shaft, whereby said cam members may have their signal-starting points alined and so maintained, and bearing means having readily detachable connection with said shaft for rotatably supporting itfrom said mam supporting means for rotation to present said cam members to said switching means along the path of movement thereof as determined by the aforesaid path of said carriers means and whereby said shaft may be readily removed for bers. r

-' 8. In a signaling apparatus having manually movable contact means with means for guiding said means along a certain path of movement and manually controlled means for selectively positioning said contact means at any one of a plurality of stations along said path, the combination of a plurality of coded cam members each having'a signal-starting point and a hole, and a shaft member, onto which said cam members are strung by way of their holes, the crosssection of said shaft member fitting the shape of said holes and the holes and the shaft crosssection being shaped to effect non-rotatable en-'- gagement between the shaftand said cam, members, whereby, as said'cam members arestrung onto said shaft, the signal starting'points of all of them may be alined longitudinally of said shaft member, said cam members being spaced according to the spacing of said plurality of stations along said path, withmeadily releasable means'for holding said cam members from movement along said shaft member, and readily releasable bearing means carried by said aparatus for rotatably supporting said shaft member in alinement with said path and 'with'said cam members respectively juxtaposed to said plurality of stations, whereby said shaft may be readily removed for rearrangement or replacement of said cam members.

9. In a signaling apparatus having manually movable contact means with means for guiding said means along a certain path of movement and manually controlled means for selectively positioning said contact means at any one of a plurality of stations along said path, the com bination of a shaft'of polygonal cross-section having strung thereon a plurality of apertured metal coded cam members each of which has a signalstarting point and has mounted in its aperture an axially short section of a tube of insulating material whose openingis'polygonal and substantially matches the polygonal cross-section of said shaft whereby said cam members may have their starting points alined and so maintained lengthwise of said shaft and said cam membersare non-rotatably and insulatingly mounted on said shaft, the latter having means for holding them against axial movement, motive means related to said apparatus, and readily'disconnectable means rotatably mounting said shaft in said apparatus in a'positio'n to aline said cam members and their,

alined starting points with said path and respec tively with said plurality of stations and includ ing a disconnectable driving connection with said motive means.

10. In signaling apparatus, in combination, a frame structure comprising two spaced end plates and a plurality of cross-tie-rods for holding said plates spaced, rotatable means supported by said frame structure and carrying a plurality of code cam members alined in the direction of one of said tie-rods, switching means, carrier means slidably mounted on said one tie-rod for movement in the direction of alinement of said code members,

means mounting said switching means on said carrier means for movement with the latter along said one of said tie-rods, whereby said switching means may be selectively positioned with respect to any one code member by sliding said carrier means along said one tie-rod, and means for thereafter shifting said carrier means in a direction to move the switching means carried by it into operative relation to the selected code member, a stop bar extending lengthwise of the path Q S iding movement of said carrier 'means, and

means pivotally mounting said stop bar with respect to another of said tie-rods for movement of said stop bar relative to said carrier means to hold the latter and hence said switching means in shifted position and against movement out of said operative relation to the selected code member.

11. In a signaling apparatus having switching means, in combination, a frame structure comprising two spaced end plates. and a plurality of cross-tie-rods for holding said plates spaced, rotatable means supported by said frame structure and carrying a plurality of code cam members alined in the direction of one of said tie-rods, carrier means slidably mounted on said one tierod for movement in the direction of alinement of said code members, means mounting said switching means on said carrier means for movement with the latter along said one tie-rod, whereby said switching means may be selectively positioned with respect to any one code member by sliding said carrier means along said one tierod, means for thereafter shifting said carrier means in a direction to move the switching means carried by it into operative relation to the selected code member, means for insulating another of said tie-rods from said end plates, said carrier means carrying contact means electrically connected to said switching means and movable into or out of electrical contact with said insulated tie-rod in accordance with the shifting movement of said carrier means.

12. In signaling apparatus, in combination, a frame structure comprising two spaced end plates and a plurality of cross-tie-rods for holding said plates spaced, rotatable means supported by said frame structure and carrying a plurality of code cam members, switching means, supporting means for said switching means, means mounting said supporting means for movement substantially parallel to the axis of said rotatable means whereby said switching means may be selectively positioned with respect to said code members, means whereby said switching means may be moved in a direction radially of a selected code member and into or out of coacting relation thereto, a stop bar extending substantially parallel to the path of sliding movement of said supporting means for holding said switching means in coactive relation to the selected code member, and means pivotaliy mounting said stop bar from one of said tie-rods.

CHRISTIAN NHLLER.

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